Change Ahead ... an open letter to the family and friends of LifePoint Church

Hello friends and family of LifePoint Church,

Greetings in the mighty name of the LORD! I pray this finds you well in your body, emotions and in your Spirit!

After prayerful and a very honest discussion as a council this past week, we are making some significant changes in our Sunday Service format.

Following the kick off pancake breakfast Sunday (September 18^th), we will be moving up the time of the morning service to 10:30 am.  We are also eliminating the “Sunday School hour” that used to begin at 9:30am.  For those who are would like to host a LifeGroup, you are free to meet as always, but there will be no official children’s program at 9:30am.  We will now point people who are looking for children discipleship training to participate in the BG club ministry (BTW… we are looking for help with BG clubs if anyone would like to help out:).    

The service will begin at 10:30 am with announcements followed by worship together in song. When the preaching/ teaching time begins at about 11:00 am we are hoping to offer a children’s program like the one we did with Faith Case over the last two summers. This will need to be discussed with those who are willing to help lead this new kids program.  It is our goal to have the morning service wrapping up by 11:40am to give us all time for relational connecting as well as time for people who would like to join a POST Service LifeGroup to get to their gathering.  More information will be given on what groups are going to be offered in the near future.  

One more addition to our Sunday AM will the invitation to an ALL CHURCH           PRE- SERVICE PRAYER and WORSHIP time in the main hall beginning at 10:10am.  Prayer is vital to God moving in our service, and in our lives, and we want to give you opportunity to come together to pray every SUNDAY.  Brenda Bowman is meeting with LPC’s greeters very soon to help with equipping them for the new change to our service.  

This is a significant change for everyone and one we pray will help us achieve the mission we have as Christ Followers both as a church family and all of us personally.   REMEMBER…THIS CHANGE BEGINS SEPT 18th

Please let myself or any of the council know your thoughts or concerns as YOUR opinion matters to us!

May the Lord help us and bless us as we make these changes!  Let all of us keep walking by Faith!

Pastor Kevin

RIPE FOR HARVEST

In the last two days I have spoken to two farming people who are already into full harvest mode! It seemed like yesterday people were just planting and already the plants have grown and matured and now are ready to be brought in from the fields.  It never ever ceases to amaze me at how this miraculous pattern repeats itself each year.  People plant something in spring and in a few short months it has become ready to be harvested.  Did you know that the Bible is full of harvest metaphors?  Jesus says in John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” St Paul gives us these great and encouraging words; “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)  James, the brother of Jesus says; “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18).  The verses in Hebrews (12:11) are words that have been on my heart a lot these days. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  God’s word regularly and gently reminds, even warns all people that everyday we are also in the planting and harvesting business. No, it may not be crops we are planting and harvesting but behavior, actions, character and attitudes.  The really important things of who a person is.  Paul says to the Galatian people “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”  Such a similar idea to what was said to the Hebrew people.  That if we allow discipline when it comes into our lives and submit to it, we will reap “righteousness and peace”.  Righteousness basically means that we will live “properly” or with correct behavior.   Unrighteous acting usually gets us into trouble of all kinds and does not bring much peace or joy.   We see everyday examples of people who are deeply affected by the unrighteous actions of others as well as the guilt that comes from our own poor choices. Yet we can daily affect our actions by what we are “sowing” or planting into our lives.  Paul says that if we sow to please our sinful nature our harvest will be destruction.  So are you taking stock of what you are planting into your life on a daily basis? Are you noticing what you are sowing into the people around you (friends and family?).  Please know that this truth is a life truth and even if you are not or do not choose to be a follower of Christ it is still true.  Guard what you are planting into your life and of those who you know and love.  Those little seeds of life or of death will have profound affect on whom you will become as you age.  One more thing, even thought the principle of planting and harvesting is true if you follow Christ or not, the LORD has promised His powerful help to us if we want to plant good seed!  In fact He sent His Spirit to us, if we want it, to product a harvest of amazing things… love, joy, peace and much more (Gal. 5:22).  If that is the harvest you want for your life, take a minute right now and ask for His help.  He has promised to answer you when you speak to him.  So as you see the harvest come in from the fields this fall, remember to think of the harvest that will be produced from your life and plant with care.     

BG clubs RETURN for fall 2011!